AgFest brings in moolah

STOCKTON - Big money at the closing sale, big plans for 2015 and a big moment for Joseph Wells of the Alpine Victor 4-H Club.

Kevin Parrish

STOCKTON - Big money at the closing sale, big plans for 2015 and a big moment for Joseph Wells of the Alpine Victor 4-H Club.

San Joaquin County's first AgFest Junior Livestock and Auction ended Saturday on a high note.

With more than 200 new buyers, the end-of-the-week livestock auction hit $885,000 in sales.

Bonner Murphy, an AgFest organizer and spokeswoman, had a favorite moment. It happened during the turkey sales. More than 90 birds out of 125 were market-ready.

Nobody wants to be last, but Joseph's gobbler had that distinction.

"He went from being last to a standing ovation," Murphy said. "It was a classic scene." First Joseph waited his turn, then he struggled to control his turkey. Once the bidding began, it didn't stop until the auctioneer had obtained a $1,000 price tag - approximately $45 per pound.

AgFest organizers felt the five-day event, a farm community replacement for the county fair, was a success on many fronts. Supreme and reserve champions were determined in 15 divisions during the competition.

In addition, there were four master showmanship winners - two each in small and large animals - who advanced to the California State Fair (July 11-27) at Cal Expo in Sacramento. They will represent local 4-H and Future Farmers of America clubs.

Even the ag-mechanical projects were sold at the final-day auction.

"I think things went really well," said Murphy, who lives in Farmington. "It was good, and the kids had a really good time. There was some really remarkable community support. It was nice to focus on the kids and ag-education projects.

"I think we pulled that off."

Now what?

Will AgFest return next year as a standalone festival or be folded into a newly constituted San Joaquin County Fair?

"We will be back next year. I don't know exactly what's in store," Murphy admitted. "There is that ideal of having a traditional county fair in every community across America. It's hard to imagine what it's like not to have one."

That said, she admitted that unfolding events this summer could be a blueprint for the future at the fairgrounds. Over the Fourth of July weekend July 2-6, there will be a county Family Fair emphasizing music and traditional carnival attractions. From Sept. 19-21, in conjunction with horse racing, a Central Valley Country BBQ Fest is scheduled.

"We've got 365 days in the year, and we have a beautiful, long summer," Murphy said. "Maybe we need to think in terms of a season of fairs - AgFest in June, Family Fair in July, hot August nights and a car show, then more music and horse racing in September.

"So many groups can use our fairgrounds, and we can celebrate what's diverse about our community. If we have a season of fairs, we can celebrate each fully."